Universal has sent us a press release announcing the newest house coming to Halloween Horror Nights this year!

For the first time ever, the psychological horror film, The Shining, will bring unspeakable terror to “Halloween Horror Nights” in terrifying new mazes opening at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, beginning this September.

The twisted minds behind the nation’s best, most intense Halloween events will bring every gruesome moment and paranormal haunting that fans have seen in the film to life in original, disturbingly authentic mazes.

“The Shining” maze at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights will provide guests with a unique opportunity to relive some of the film’s most iconic, and sinister, moments. While venturing through the eerie Overlook Hotel, guests will be thrust into the hotel’s tragic history of murder and madness, bearing witness to caretaker Jack Torrance’s spiraling descent into insanity. Nightmarish visions will come to life in this macabre maze, overwhelming guests with the “shine” of the murderous, ghostly entities that lurk around every turn – all while trying to escape the wrath of Jack Torrance as he violently succumbs to the hotel’s paranormal forces.

The Shining has been regarded as “a masterpiece of modern horror” by critics and fans alike. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the film’s enormous influence on pop culture has been captured throughout a multitude of films, television shows, music and more since its disturbing debut in 1980.

Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” is the ultimate Halloween event. For more than 20 years, guests from around the world have visited Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando and Hollywood to become victims inside their own horror film. The streets of each coast’s event are transformed into highly-themed scare zones where menacing “scare-actors” lunge from every darkened corner. Multiple movie-quality haunted houses are erected throughout the event, based on everything from iconic slasher films to hit horror television series to haunting original stories.

Additional details about Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights” will be revealed soon. For more information about Halloween Horror Nights at either Universal Orlando Resort or Universal Studios Hollywood, visit http://www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

Change the scheme, Alter the mood! Electrify the boys and girls if you would be so kind!

Universal did an unannounced public soft opening of the light show last night. There is strong suspicion they will do more for the rest of the Memorial Day weekend.

No guarantee of how it will work for future nights, but last night they did two showings, one at about 8:40 and another at about 8:55. Lots of Universal execs around.

I did enjoy it a lot. My husband did record the second show, and it clocked in at almost exactly 5 minutes. I would already recommend trying to see a second show (should they do one), because it really emptied out after the first show.

We had no idea it was going to happen, but we were able to put together a lot of various clues that led to it: the fact that there were no more Frog Choir or Tri Wizard shows after 6pm even though the park was open until 9pm, and they put up many stanchions to block off large areas around the Tri Wizard Stage and opposite of Filch's. Attending team members just said it was for a "special event", but some at the FotH ride told us flat out it was for the light show at 8:45 and 9:00 when we asked. Their times were a bit off, but that may have been because it was a soft opening.

If you want to know about the show itself:SPOILER ALERT BELOW (and I can't find a spoiler tag, so I did a strikethrough instead)...........It's essentially exactly the same as the media day light show. Differences include the addition of lights in the Forbidden Forest and the flying hogs at the ride entrance, a narration by the sorting hat, and a new ending that sort of mimics the effects of fireworks. Unsurprisingly, there are no real fireworks, I'm quite sure due to local regulations.

Universal announced some upcoming additions and entertainment offerings:

-DreamWorks Theatre attraction replacing Shrek that will feature Kung Fu Panda-DreamWorks characters added to the park-Hello Kitty to be featured as part of the under construction replacement for Cartooniversal-The Christmas offerings at WWoHP are coming to Hollywood as well

Below highlights what’s on the horizon in 2018 at Universal Studios Hollywood even as the Entertainment Capital of L.A. continues to unveil dynamic new opportunities for the remainder of 2017:

With DreamWorks Animation’s recent acquisition, Universal Studios Hollywood will soon roll out the red carpet for a unique, never before seen DreamWorks Theatre attraction. Opening in 2018, this newly designed venue will play host to a variety of action-packed DreamWorks Animation themed attractions beginning with the multi-sensory adventure inspired by the global blockbuster franchise Kung Fu Panda, and created in partnership with Universal Creative and DreamWorks’ Artists. This new technologically advanced attraction will take guests on a legendary journey that fuses captivating storytelling with state-of-the art projection mapping and LED lighting effects for a highly engaging and immersive, unstoppable-awesome experience.

Meet the lovable DreamWorks characters that will join Universal Studios Hollywood beginning in summer 2017 to entertain guests and pose for memorable photos. Newly introduced characters will include: Kung Fu Panda’s Po and Tigress; Madagascar’s Alex the Lion, The Penguins—Skipper, Rico, Kowalski and Private, and King Julian; Trolls’ Poppy and Branch; Shrek’s Puss ‘n Boots will join existing characters Shrek and Fiona. These many new entertaining characters will join the vast array of Universal Studios Hollywood’s many other diverse walk-about characters.

Hello Kitty, the beloved global pop icon created by the Japanese company Sanrio, joins Universal Studios Hollywood in 2018. Hello Kitty and her signature red bow, along with more Sanrio friends including My Melody, Keroppi, and Chococat, will be featured on park-exclusive merchandise including accessories, apparel, collectibles, and confectionery. Highlights of the exclusive product offerings include designs incorporating classic Universal titles such as Jaws, ET, Back to the Future and more. Hello Kitty herself will also appear to meet and greet guests.

Universal City, CA, June 5, 2017 – This holiday season, Universal Studios Hollywood will introduce “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” transforming HogwartsTM castle into a breathtaking light projection show that captures the spirt of the yuletide season.

Hogsmeade village will also shine brightly as the quaint town celebrates with festive décor uniquely themed to each of the individual storefronts, along with holiday-themed food and beverages including hot Butterbeer.

A special time in the Harry Potter series, the all-new “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” tradition invites guests to celebrate this part of J.K. Rowling’s compelling story for themselves.

As night falls on Hogsmeade village, the familiar sounds of Harry Potter music will resonate throughout “The Wizarding World of Harry PotterTM”. Multiple times an evening, colorful projection mapping will illuminate Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with impressive dimensional animations that melodically dance across Hogwarts castle in tandem to a musical arrangement from of the Harry Potter movies.

“Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” represents the immersive land’s first holiday themed program since opening at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2016.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters that were brought to life in the Warner Bros. films, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood is a masterful recreation, faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including as its iconic focal point, Hogwarts castle.

From its snow-capped roofs and cobblestone streets to the historic British sensibilities that characterize the whimsical look and feel of the land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” transports guests of all ages to the very places they watched on the silver screen.

The architecturally stunning land also includes the captivating and highly acclaimed “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” thrill ride, now enhanced with 4K-HD and ride film projecting at an astounding rate of 120 frames-per-second for an even more immersive glimpse into Harry Potter’s world, as well as “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor family coaster.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” resonates with immense detail, inviting guests to revel in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World with the opportunity to enjoy authentic food and beverages at multiple locations, including Three Broomsticks™ and Hog's Head pub, as well as the Magic Neep and Butterbeer™ carts.

A foray through the shops adds to the authenticity of the land with eight retail venues and locations, including Honeydukes™, Ollivanders™, Owl Post™, Zonko’s™ Joke Shop, Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, Dervish and Banges™, Gladrags Wizardwear and Filch’s Emporium™ of Confiscated Goods.

More details about “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” will be shared in the coming months.

I'm curious if there was a reason why there haven't been meet and greets before? Is it just a case of because Shrek was the only ride there wasn't a need for them? I remember going to USS a year after opening and meeting Po. Granted their Dreamworks selection was a bit bigger with Madgascar and Shrek 4D (Puss in Boot wasn't under construction yet) but we didn't see anything Kung Fu panda related in the park.

Garet wrote:I'm curious if there was a reason why there haven't been meet and greets before? Is it just a case of because Shrek was the only ride there wasn't a need for them? I remember going to USS a year after opening and meeting Po. Granted their Dreamworks selection was a bit bigger with Madgascar and Shrek 4D (Puss in Boot wasn't under construction yet) but we didn't see anything Kung Fu panda related in the park.

They've had them throughout the years when the movies have come out (and just had Po for Chinese New Year), just never a consistent presence until now.

Universal Studios Hollywood has sent us a press release announcing the presence of the Titans of Terror at this year's Halloween Horror Nights in two new experiences!

Universal Studios Hollywood unites four slasher film legends—Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface and Chucky—in two all-new terrifying “Titans of Terror” experiences as part of this year’s “Halloween Horror Nights” event which kicks off Friday, September 15, 2017.

In the new “Titans of Terror” maze, guests will fall victim to the silver screen’s most deplorable killers whose affinity for bladed weapons redefined the horror movie genre as slasher films: Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) wielding his iconic chainsaw, Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th) brandishing his relentless machete, and Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street) swiping his trademark glove armed with razor blades. The new maze will be an assault on guests’ sensibilities as they descend into the forbidden realms of these horror icons.

Taking terror to an unspeakable level of bloodcurdling screams, the “Titans of Terror Tram Hosted by Chucky” will transport guests into a nightmare of carnage pitting guests against these four modern horror icons, this time led by infamous serial killer doll Chucky (Child’s Play franchise). With his faithful army of degenerate chainsaw-wielding Good Guy Dolls, Chucky will unleash havoc upon guests as they navigate a portion of the world-famous backlot.

Further “Terror Tram” encounters will include Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th) at the Crystal Lake Motel where he slaughters newly arrived camp counselors; an ominous confrontation with Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street) who takes his ultimate revenge on the town of Springwood; and a final foray through the barn from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, where Leatherface and the Sawyer family butcher victims for their cannibal cuisine.

Unique to Universal Studios Hollywood, the “Terror Tram” enables “Halloween Horror Nights” guests to walk along an area of the famed movie and television studio, where such sets as the Psycho House and the Bates Motel from Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller, and I am too stupid to spell Steel Vengeance so I'll just write SteVen and pretend I'm being cool Spielberg’s War of the Worlds, are located.

"Halloween Horror Nights" at Universal Studios Hollywood brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in a living, breathing, three-dimensional world of terror. Featuring an all-new slate of unrivaled film production quality mazes and frightful scare zones, “Halloween Horror Nights” will taunt, terrorize and torment guests with spine-chilling haunted attractions as part of Southern California’s most extreme Halloween experience.

Updates on “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood are available online at HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Hollywood and on Facebook at: “Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood,” Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter at @HorrorNights as Creative Director John Murdy reveals a running chronicle of exclusive information. Watch videos on Halloween Horror Nights YouTube and join the conversation using #UniversalHHN.

cfc wrote:I've never been to the Hollywood version of Horror Nights, but I'm intrigued by the horror "tram takeovers."

The Tram's have always been a cool treat during HHN, especially if you geek out on movie industry stuff. When you get let out on the lot, you find yourself walking through the War of the Worlds, Bates Motel, and various other movie sets. You can also walk up to the Psycho House and take a picture with Norman. I haven't been a big fan or the Purge themed years, just due to the fact that there are a lot of Purge scare zones already in the park. So having this new theme sounds refreshing.

If you want to search Youtube, look up the Terror Tram in 2014. It was super fun and interactive.

Glad they purged the Purge out of HHN! Such a visually dead horror franchise. Nice to see the Titans back. Bouncing between doing the killer deal discount night or waiting until Oct. and doing the Gate A pass. Really want to see how they handle "The Shining" in maze from too.

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